Converting gays creates 'damaged people'

Exorcisms, hugging, behavioural management and marriage are among the methods used by a Christian ministry to "heal" homosexuals in Queensland, according to a former leader who now wants to see the practice stamped out.

Paul Martin, the principal psychologist at Brisbane's Centre for Human Potential, said the local branches of an American organisation known as Exodus Global Alliance promoted homophobia and dangerous "ex-gay" therapies.

But Mr Martin, who became a lead counsellor with the Melbourne branch of Exodus Asia Pacific in his early 20s, said despite apparent support for issues such as same-sex marriage, there was a culture of internalised anti-gay sentiment in Queensland.

Paul Martin was a lead counsellor with Exodus Asia Pacific, but has since turned his back on the organisation.

Mr Martin said that sentiment meant organisations seeking to “cure” homosexual people would continue to find an audience

“Their message stems from the idea that homosexuality stems from a childhood love-deficit, that you weren't loved enough by your father and so crave love from men, or that you were sexually abused; basically that homosexuality comes from a bad place, that homosexuals are damaged people, and that Exodus will heal your brokenness,” Mr Martin said.

“Ex-gay ministries [like Exodus] see homosexuality as a sin, as something that is evil, and a disorder that can be cured.”

According to a timeline on the Exodus Global Alliance website, the ministries expanded into Australia in 1978, with Brisbane hosting the first Exodus Asia Pacific conference in 1990 as the church grew into Singapore and the Philippines.

Of the eight Exodus ministries currently operating in Australia, five are located in Queensland, including two at the Sunshine Coast, one in Underwood and one in Tingalpa.

Exodus Asia Pacific chairman Carol Hardy declined to comment when approached by brisbanetimes.com.au yesterday. Calls made to Queensland's Exodus ministries by brisbanetimes.com.au were also not returned.

Treatment or torment?

Mr Martin said those ministered to by Exodus suffered from deep religious conflict and internal homophobia that manifested in intense self-loathing and strong desire to find relief from their perceived “burden of sinful sexuality”.

He said after signing up to the ministries, the parishioners would participate in various “treatment programs” that included focused prayer groups, counselling, and exercises designed to cast out demons.

Men and women underwent masculinisation and feminisation therapies which included learning how to dress and behave more like “the straight man or woman they were supposed to be,” Mr Martin said, including dressing lesbians in Laura Ashley garments.

There was also an intense pressure to form heterosexual relationships in the Christian communities that supported the ministry, with marriage and children seen as the ultimate mark of success.

“We'd parade men who went through the program and got married around like they were champions, and they'd all say their lives were better since they committed to God and enjoyed the sort of relationship God intended – with a woman, having children,” Mr Martin said.

“But you'd then have a conversation where they admitted their lives were far more painful now they were living this even greater lie – they were burdened with guilt because they were hurting the woman they were married to, or engaging in desperate sex acts in public toilets or bushes that were even further from their belief system [than committed same-sex relationships].”

Mr Martin said such interactions, coupled with his own struggle to meld his fundamental Christian beliefs with his homosexual orientation, eventually gave rise to his decision to walk away from the ministry, its church, and move to Brisbane.

He said while attitudes had improved significantly since his youth, the large number of ex-gay ministries in Queensland was a sign homophobic sentiment still made life challenging for many men and women.

A sign of the times?

Queensland Association for Healthy Communities executive director Paul Martin (who shares a name with the former Exodus counsellor) said there was small but significant residue left over from the “old days” of Queensland, were anti-gay discrimination was rife.

Wright, Hinkler and Capricornia had the highest percentages of people who agreed with the statement "I believe homosexuality is immoral”, with the inner suburbs of Brisbane among the third most gay-friendly in Australia, after Melbourne and Sydney.

QAHC's Mr Martin said Ms Simpson's 2002 comments in support of the Exodus ministry might not represent the mainstream today.

“But outdated homophobic attitudes still prevail and one has to point out the damage done to people living in state were homosexuality was a crime until 1990 – it's a cumulative damage, it's minority stress, it's people dealing with long-held feelings they were less equal than others,” he said.

138 comments so far

It is worth noting that in the USA, one of the key proponent of ex-gay gospel, John Smid, formerly of "Exodus International" and "Love In Action" has made several media and public appearances saying he's realized being gay is "intrinsic" and that he's not met anyone whose changed orientations, even while part of Exodus International, including himself.

He has also publicly apologised for the way his former organisation (Exodus International) has treated same-sex attracted people, and for the psychological harm they have caused.

More on this can be seen here: http://www.advocate.com/News/Daily_News/2011/10/19/Former_Ex_gay_Leader_No_Such_Thing_as_Ex_gay/

Commenter

rob1966

Location

Sydney

Date and time

October 28, 2011, 6:07AM

Is it not discrimination to not allow Adam Hood his moment to speak on his life and share his passion? Is he somehow less equal then anyone else? Why do those who champion equality, tolerance and equal-opportunity seem to be the most bigotted and seeking to ban Adam Hood from speaking? Or is it just that this paper gives them unequal time and the press in general has too much to say about 2% of the population?Is everyone in Australia suddenly gay to command so much media time?Just questions - that is all.

Commenter

Tony

Date and time

October 28, 2011, 6:30AM

How sick! Not too far away from the Nazi killings of gays, This time we will just change them.

I am encouraged to see the Christain lobby slowing loosing this abominable stance

Commenter

Charlie

Location

Coffs Harbour

Date and time

October 28, 2011, 6:57AM

Bob Katter has previously said that there are no Gays in his electorate of Kennedy. Another typically narrow minded view held by an extreme right wing politician.

Commenter

Watch Out

Location

Brisbane

Date and time

October 28, 2011, 6:57AM

All the dubious inconclusive science has been discussed previously. We know factually that there is no demonstrated, indisputable genetic cause of homosexuality.

Studies have been conducted in this area for sure but without any conclusive findings. In other words, there are no such undisputed or conclusive markers pertaining to homosexuality even though the commonly-held myth is that there are. A fiction does not become a fact merely because prominent supporters of a cause keep maintaining it is. Especially from gay-aligned psychologists.

Saying that being gay is the same as being black or white is patently absurd. Racial characteristics are certainly not condemned by Christianity for one thing and are defined by clearly identifiable genetic markers in the human genome.

Secondly, the notion of the author of creation, deliberately mixing up the genome so that gay people are born that way to live as many do, a life of torment and pain and then for eternity is beyond silly.

Such a view indicates a very poor understanding of the nature of God and Cosmos. It is utterly at odds with the inherent compassion and desire of God for all people to live in peace and in the manner he ordained. Scripture (which in one sense actually is God) says this is as man and woman having natural interrelations. Homosexuality is not given a guernsey anywhere in the bible.

So either scripture and God have got it badly wrong and screwed up genetics (a most arrogant human position) or the research is faulty. Know where I'm putting my money.

Commenter

Julian

Location

West End

Date and time

October 28, 2011, 7:13AM

@ John Fraser - Are you really suggesting that anybody who doesn't share your point of view is a "sycophantic supporter" and that everybody in the LNP is part of a "misogynistic homophobic dictatorial heirachy"?

I think you really need to accept that we live in one of the great democracies and we have the right to free speech and the right to be straight, gay or both.

We have the right to be Labor, LNP, Green or whatever.

There is over 40 nationalities of kids at our local primary school living in multicultural bliss. Thank goodness a narrow-minded person like you is not in charge because I would fear for the kids and parents who didn't meet your criteria of OK.

How about you try a new habit going forward John - Think before you type and especially before you press SEND.

Commenter

Barry

Location

Indooroopilly

Date and time

October 28, 2011, 7:15AM

.

@ johannes | fortitude valley 7:25

I wish your view were true.

Indications are that revivalist Christian religion (usually Pentacostal) is massively expanding. One cam also add the expansion of Islamic faith.

The fact is that the massive lurch to the (far) political right over the past few decades has been accompanied by a resurgence of religion - and sadly an intolerance towards other religions, outcasts, AND the unfaithful.

Cheers

Commenter

Dalliance

Date and time

October 28, 2011, 7:15AM

i take comfort in the fact that religion is dying under the weight of rational thought. these sick institutions have no relevance in this age, yet i still pity those locked into its blinkered world view. so sad!

Commenter

johannes

Location

fortitude valley

Date and time

October 28, 2011, 7:25AM

If you watch videos of Adam Hood on youtube he comes across as the most camp "straight" man I have ever seen. He is not doing a very good job of butching it up. It's hilarious. If ever there needs to be evidence that it doesn't work, just watch his videos.

Commenter

Paul

Location

Brisbane

Date and time

October 28, 2011, 7:28AM

"A former leader of the Exodus ministry says gay people who have been taught to go straight are 'the most damaged people I have ever worked with'."

Obviously this person has never had to work with the sycophantic supporters of the LNP.

Just add another string to the banjo of the misogynistic homophobic dictatorial heirachy of the Liberal National Parody.